The Stewardship of Talents Discovering your S.H.A.P.E. Ephesians 2:10, For we are God s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. The Almighty God is the Great Master Artist, who has created everything in the universe. His great creation includes: the beauty of nature, the splendor of the heavenly bodies, the animals that walk on the earth, the colorful fish that swim in the seas, and the magnificent birds that fly in the sky. But His greatest masterpiece of his creations is the special person that you are. You are God s special creation. You are so unique and special that the scripture says, Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous-and how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed (Psalm 139:14-16, NLT). The God of the entire universe began making a masterpiece of you, even as you were taking shape in your mother s womb. God himself is the one who breathed life into you. God doesn t create anything without value. He is the ultimate craftsman. And He designed you specifically to fulfill a unique role in His ultimate plan to establish his kingdom on earth. The bible says, For we are God s masterpiece. He created us a new in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. This verse helps us understand that if we want to discover our mission in life, we first need to look at the masterpiece God has made us to be in Christ Jesus. Another translation of Ephesians 2:10, use the word workmanship to describe our uniqueness. It s from the Greek word poiema, which literally means work of art. It is the root of our English word poem. You are a work of God and nothing, but the highest and best comes from his hand. Like the artist who takes scrap metal and turns it into an amazing sculpture, God takes our lives and fashions them into a masterpiece. 7
You are not only a masterpiece shaped by God s own loving hands, but you are a unique work of divine art. Like an original painting or sculpture, you are one of a kind. There is no one else like you, God designed each of us so there would be no duplication in the world. No one has the exact same mix of factors that make you unique. Da Vinci painted one Mona Lisa, Beethoven created one Fifth Symphony and God made one version of you. You re it! You re the only you there is. You can do something that no one else can do, in a fashion that no one else can do it. You are more than a coincidence of chromosomes and heredity, more than just an assemblage of somebody else s lineage. You are uniquely made. God created you as a unique masterpiece because He has a specific purpose for your life, a special and unique contribution that only you can make. What does that mean? Your contribution is the unique service of which God created you to make, a ministry only you can perform. When God created animals, He gave each of them a specific area of expertise. Some animals run, some lop, some swim, some burrow, and some fly. Each animal has a particular role to play based on the way God shaped them. The same is true with human beings. Each of us were uniquely shaped and designed by God to do certain things. Wise stewardship of your life begins by understanding your shape. What God made you to be determines what he intends for you to do. Your ministry is determined by your makeup. The acronym meaning for S.H.A.P.E. is: Spiritual Gifts... unwrapping your God-given treasures Heart... discovering your true passion Abilities... discovering what you naturally good at Personality... discovering what God made you to be Experience... discovering where you have been From Romans 12:6-8; I Corinthians 12:8-10; I Corinthians 12:28; I Peter 4:9-10, we can pull together, a list of twenty spiritual gifts. 8
Administration Apostleship Discernment Encouragement Evangelism Faith Giving Healing Helping Hospitality Interpretation Knowledge Leadership Mercy Miracles Pastor Prophecy Teaching Tongues Wisdom Spiritual Gifts: What Am I Gifted to Do? The spiritual gifts I believe God has given me are: I feel I could use these gifts in the following ways to serve others: Heart: What do I Have a Passion For? What drives my life: Who do I care about most: 9
The needs I love to meet in another person s life: The cause I feel God wants me to help conquer for Him is: My ultimate dream for God s kingdom: Abilities: What do I naturally excel at? My top natural abilities are: Personality: How Has God Wired Me? I tend to relate to others by being: Outgoing ---------------------------------------------- Reserved Self- expressive -------------------------------------- Self-controlled Cooperative ------------------------------------------- Competitive I tend to respond to opportunities that are: High risk ---------------------------------------------- Low-risk People ------------------------------------------------- Process/Projects Follow ------------------------------------------------- Lead Teamwork -------------------------------------------- Solo Routine ------------------------------------------------ Variety 10
Experiences: Where I Have Been? My positive experiences include: Areas in which I feel I could help another person include: My painful experiences include: These are areas God has helped me through that I feel I could help another person through: 11
Questions and Answers on the Stewardship of Talents 1. Do you receive the truth that you are a masterpiece? (Explain.) 2. Read Ephesians 2:1-10 and elaborate on what these scriptures are saying about your position in Jesus Christ. 3. Read I Corinthians 12: 1-31; I Peter 4:9-10 and Romans 12:6-8 and share how you fit in with the church where you are and what gifts are you presently using in that body. 4. How have your experiences both positive and painful in life helped you in your ministry? 12
copyright 2003 UfeWay Christian Resources 1 Not at all characteristic of me/definitely untrue for me Work at your own pace. Select the one response you feel best characterizes yourself and place that number in Do not spend too much time on any one item. Remember, It Is not a test. Usually your Do not ask others how they are answering or how they think you should answer. immediate response Is best. the blank provided. Record your answer In the blank beside each item. others are statements of belief. statements. Some items reflect concrete actions; other items am descriptive traits; and still This is not a test, so there are no wrong answers. The Spiritual Gifts Survey consists of 80 Please give an answer for each item. Do not skip any items. 4 Most of the time this would describe me/be true for me 5 Highly characteristic of me/definitely true for me Your response choices are: 3 Frequently characteristic of me/true for me about 50 percent of the time 2 Occasionally Characteristic of meltrue for me about 25 percent of the time DIRECTIONS 3. I am able to relate the truths of God to specific situations. 4. I have a God-given ability to help others grew in their faith. 5. I posseis a special ability to communicate the truth of salvation. 7. I am sensitive to the hurts of people. 8. I experience joy in meeting needs through sharing possessions. 9. I enjoy studying. 1. I have the ability to organize ideas, resources, time, and people effáctiveiy. SPIRITUAL Gins SURVEY LffaWay Christian Resources 2. I am willing to study and prepare for the task of teaching. 6. I have the ability to make critical decisions when necessary. 11. I am able to sense the true motivation of persons and movements. 13. I have a strong desire to contribute to the establishment of new churches. 12. I have a special ability to trust God in difficult situations. Spiritual Gifts Survey 14. I take action to meet physical and practical needs rather than merely talking about 15. I enjoy entertaining guests in my home. 17. I can delegate and assign meaningful work. 10. I have delivered God s message of waming and Judgment. or planning to help. 16. I can adapt my guidance to fit the maturity of those working with me.
Spiritual Gifts Survey LeWay Chrtian Resources 18. I have an ability and desire to teach. 19. I am usually able to analyze a situation correctly. * 20. I have a natural tendency to encourage others. 21. I am willing to take the initiative In helping other Christians grow in their faith. 22. I have an acute awareness of the emotions of other people, such as loneliness, pain, fear and anger. 23. I am a cheerful giver. 24. I spend time digging into facts. 25. I feel that I have a message from God to deliver to others. 26. I can recognize when a is genuine/honest. 27. I am a person of vision (a clear mental portrait of a preferable future given by God). am able to communicate vision In such a way that others commit to making the vision a reality. 28. I am willing to yield to God s will rather than question and waver. 29. I would like to be more active in getting the gospel to people in other lands. 30. It makes me happy to do things for people In need. 31. I am successful in getting a group to do its work joyfully. 32. I am able to make strangers feel at ease. 33. I have the ability to plan learning approaches. 34. I can identify those who need encouragement. 35. I have trained Christians to be more obedient disciples of Christ. 36. I am willing to do whatever it takes to see others come to Christ. 37. I am attracted to people who are hurting. 38. I am a generous giver. 39. I am able to discover new truths. 40. I have spiritual insights from Scripture concerning issues and people that compel me to speak out. 41. I can sense when a person is acting in accord with God s will. 42. I can trust in God even when things look dark. 43. I can determine where God wants a group to go and help it get there. 47. I have been able to make effective and efficient plans for accomplishing the goals of a group. Copyright 2003 LifeWay Christian Resources 44. I have a strong desire to take the gospel to places where it has never been heard. 45. I enjoy reaching out to new people in my church and community. 46. I am sensitive to the needs of people.
copyright 2003 UleWay christian Resources Lord and His salvation. 50. I am able to give spiritual direction to others. - 51. I am able to present the gospel to lost persons In such a way that they accept the 52. I possess an unusual capacity to understand the feelings of those in distress. 53. I have a strong sense of stewardship based on the recognition that God owns all 54. I have delivered to other persons messages that have come directly from God. 55. I can sense when a person Is acting under God s leadership. 56. I try to be in God s will continually and be available for His use. 60. I like to meet visitors at church and make them feel welcome. 61. I explain Scripture in such a way that others understand it. 4g. I think about how I can comfort and encourage others in my congregation. things. ministries. 65. I can influence others to perform to their highest God-given potential. 67. I desire to give generously and unpretentiously to worthwhile projects and decisions. encouragement, and counseling. 48. I often am consulted when fellow Christians are struggling to make difficult 58. I have an acute awareness of the physical needs of others. 59. I am skilled In setting forth positive and precise steps of action. 62. I can usually see spiritual solutions to problems. 63. I welcome opportunities to help people who need comfort, consolation, 64. I feel at ease in sharing Christ with nonbelievers. 66. I recognize the signs of stress and distress in others. 74. I have been able to apply biblical truth to the specific needs of my church. 76. I have sensed the need to help other people become morn effective in their ministries. experiences. 68. I can organize facts into meaningful relationships. 69. God gives me messages to deliver to His people. 70. I am able to sense whether people are being honest when they tell of their religious 71. I enjoy presenting the gospel to persons of other cultures and backgrounds. 72. I enjoy doing little things that help people. 75. God has used me to encourage others to live Christlike lives. LifeWay ChdsOan Resources Spiritual Gifts Survey S - 67. I feel that I should take the gospel to people who have different beliefs [mm me. 73. I can give a clear, uncomplicated presentation.
77. I like to talk about Jesus to those who do not know Him. 78. I have the ability to make strangers feel comfortable in my home. Spiritual Gifts Survey UleWay Chhstian Resources 79. I have a wide range of study resources and know how to secure information. 80. I feel assured that a situation will change for the glory of God even when the situation seem impossible. SCORING YOUR SURVEY Follow these directions to figure your score for each spiritual gift. 1. Place in each box your numerical response (1-5)to the Item number which is indicated below the box. 2. For each gift, add the numbers in the boxes and put the total in the box. LADERSHIP + + + = WMINISTRA11ON Item 6 Item 16 Item 27 Item 43 Item 65 + + + = leaching Hem 1 Hem 17 Hem 31 Item 47 Hem 59 + + + + = <NOWLEDGE Item 2 Item 18 Item 33 Item 61 Item 73 + 1- + + = NISDOM Item 9 Item 24 Item 39 Item 68 + + + + Item 79 ROPHECY Item 3 item 19 Item 48 Item 62 Item 74 + + + + = )ISCERNMENT item 10 item 25 Item 40 Item 54 Item 69 + + + = hem 11 item 26 item 41 item 55 item 70 EXHORTATION + + = ;HEPHERDiNG item 20 Item 34 item 49 item 63 + + + + Item 75 :%çfl4 Item 4 Item 21 item 35 item 50 Item 76 + + = EVANGELISM Item 12 Item 28 tm 42 item 56 Item 80 + + + + = POSThESHIP items item 35 Item 51 item 64 tern 77 + + + + = SERVICE/HELPS item 13 item 29 tern 44 ItemS? item 71 + + + + = taercy Item 14 Item 30 item 46 + ± + ItemSB item 72 ilem 7 Item 22 ilem 37 Item 52 item 66 3IVING + + 4. + = TOTAl. 1OSPITALIW Item 8 item 23 Item 36 Item 53 item 57 + + + item 15 item 32 item 45 Item 60 item 78 copyright 2003 LifeWay christen Resources